
















































































































































































0 


THE 

BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN 

n 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 



I 


BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 
lftitocr?ibe press' Cambriboe 


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COPYRIGHT, 1886, BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN 
COPYRIGHT, 18S8, BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 
COPYRIGHT, 1914 AND I916, BY KATE DOUGLAS RIGGS 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


SIX HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND THOUSAND 








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QCTf* »tbtrsfoe $3r«g 

CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS 
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A 


TO THE THREE DEAREST CHILDREN 
IN THE WORLD 

BERTHA, LUCY, AND HORATIO 



CONTENTS AND LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGH 


“ The little Ruggleses bore it bravely ” (page 36) Frontispiece 

V ignette . Title 

I. A Little Snow Bird. 

“ She is a little Christmas Child ”. 

II. Drooping Wings ......... 

III. The Bird’s Nest.. 

Carol at her window ........ 

IV. “ Birds of a feather flock together ”... 

The “ Window School ” . .. 

V. Some Other Birds are taught to Fly .... 

“ I want ter see how yer goin ’ ter behave ” . 

VI. “ When the pie was opened, ) 

1 y 9 » o • • 

The birds began to sing ! ” ) 

“ The Ruggleses never forgot it ” 

“ I beat the hull lot o' yer ! ” ..... 

VII . The Birdling flies away ....... 

“ My Ain Countree ” ........ 

u I thought of the Star in the East r ’ * . . . 


1 

7 

10 

15 

21 

22 

31 

32 
39 

48 

55 

62 

63 

65 

69 




* 


\ 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 

I 

A LITTLE SNOW BIRD 

T was very early Christmas morning, 
and in the stillness of the dawn, with 
the soft snow falling on the house¬ 
tops, a little child was born in the 
Bird household. 

They had intended to name the baby Lucy, if it 
were a girl; but they had not expected her on 
Christmas morning, and a real Christmas baby was 
not to be lightly named — the whole family agreed 
in that. 

They were consulting about it in the nursery. 
Mr. Bird said that he had assisted in naming the 
three boys, and that he should leave this matter en¬ 
tirely to Mrs. Bird; Donald wanted the child called 
u Dorothy/' after a pretty, curly-haired girl who sat 
next him in school; Paul choose “Luella,” for Luella 
was the nurse who had been with him during his 






2 


THE BIRDS* CHRISTMAS CAROL 


whole babyhood, up to the time of his first trousers, 
and the name suggested all sorts of comfortable 
things. Uncle Jack said that the first girl should 
always be named for her mother, no matter how 
hideous the name happened to be. 

Grandma said that she would prefer not to take 
any part in the discussion, and everybody suddenly 
remembered that Mrs. Bird had thought of naming 
the baby Lucy, for Grandma herself; and, while it 
would be indelicate for her to favor that name, it 
would be against human nature for her to suggest 
any other, under the circumstances. 

Hugh, the “ hitherto baby,” if that is a possible 
term, sat in one corner and said nothing, but felt, in 
sdme mysterious way, that his nose was out of joint; 
for there was a newer baby now, a possibility he had 
never taken into consideration; and the “ first girl,” 
too, — a still higher development of treason, which 
made him actually green with jealousy. 

But it was too profound a subject to be settled 
then and there, on the spot; besides, Mamma had 
not been asked, and everybody felt it rather absurd, 
after all, to forestall a decree that was certain to be 
absolutely wise, just, and perfect. 

The reason that the subject had been brought up 
at all so early in the day lay in the fact that Mrs. 


A LITTLE SNOW BIRD 


8 


Bird never allowed her babies to go over night 
unnamed. She was a person of so great decision of 
character that she would have blushed at such a 
thing ; she said that to let blessed babies go dan¬ 
gling and dawdling about without names, for months 
and months, was enough to ruin them for life. She 
also said that if one could not make up one’s mind 
in twenty-four hours it was a sign that — But I 
will not repeat the rest, as it might prejudice you 
against the most charming woman in the world. 

So Donald took his new velocipede and went out 
to ride up and down the stone pavement and notch 
the shins of innocent people as they passed by, while 
Paul spun his musical top on the front steps. 

But Hugh refused to leave the scene of action. 
He seated himself on the top stair in the hall, 
banged his head against the railing a few times, just . 
by way of uncorking the vials of his wrath, and then v 
subsided into gloomy silence, waiting to declare war 
if more “ first girl babies ” were thrust upon a fam¬ 
ily already surfeited with that unnecessary article. 

Meanwhile dear Mrs. Bird lay in her room, weak, 
but safe and happy, with her sweet girl baby by her 
side and the heaven of motherhood opening again 
before her.^) Nurse was making gruel in the kitchen, 
and the room was dim and quiet. There was a cheer- 


4 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


ful open fire in the grate, but though the shutters 
were closed, the side windows that looked out on the 
Church o£ Our Saviour, next door, were a little open. 

Suddenly a sound of music poured out into the 
bright air and drifted into the chamber. It was the 
boy choir singing Christmas anthems. Higher and 
higher rose the clear, fresh voices, full of hope 
and cheer, as children’s voices always are. Fuller 
and fuller grew the burst of melody as one glad 
strain fell upon another in joyful harmony : — 

“ Carol, brothers, carol, 

Carol joyfully, 

Carol the good tidings, 

Carol merrily ! 

And pray a gladsome Christmas 
For all your fellow-men : 

Carol, brothers, carol, 

Christmas Day again.” 


One verse followed another, always with the same 
sweet refrain: — 

u And pray a gladsome Christmas 
For all your fellow-men s 
Carol, brothers, carol, 

Christmas Day again.” 

Mrs. Bird thought, as the music floated in upon 
her gentle sleep, that she had slipped into heaven 
with her new baby, and that the angels were bidding 


A LITTLE SNOW BIRD 


§ 


them welcome. But the tiny bundle by her side 
stirred a little, and though it was scarcely more than 
the ruffling of a feather, she awoke; for the mother- 
ear is so close to the heart that it can hear the faint¬ 
est whisper of a child. 

She opened her eyes and drew the baby closer. It 
looked like a rose dipped in milk, she thought, this 
pink and white blossom of girlhood, or like a pink 
cherub, with its halo of pale yellow hair, finer than 
floss silk. 

“Carol, brothers, carol, 

Carol joyfully, 

Carol the good tidings, 

Carol merrily ! ” 

The voices were brimming over with joy. 

“ Why, my baby,” whispered Mrs. Bird in soft 
surprise, “ I had forgotten what day it was. You 
are a little Christmas child, and we will name you 
* Carol’ — mother’s Christmas Carol! ” 

“ What! ” said Mr. Bird, coming in softly and 
closing the door behind him. 

u Why, Donald, don’t you think * Carol * is a 
sweet name for a Christmas baby ? It came to me 
just a moment ago in the singing, as I was lying 
here half asleep and half awake.” 

“ I think it is a charming name, dear heart, and 


0 


THE BIRDS* CHRISTMAS CAROL 


sounds just like you, and T hope that, being a girl, 
this baby has some chance of being as lovely as her 
mother ; ”—at which speech from the baby’s papa, 
Mrs. Bird, though she was as weak and tired as she 
could be, blushed with happiness. 

And so Carol came by her name. 

Of course, it was thought foolish by many people, 
though Uncle Jack declared laughingly that it was 
very strange if a whole family of Birds could not 
be indulged in a single Carol; and Grandma, who 
adored the child, thought the name much more ap¬ 
propriate than Lucy, but was glad that people would 
probably think it short for Caroline. 

Perhaps because she was born in holiday time, 
Carol was a very happy baby. Of course, she was 
too tiny to understand the joy of Christmas-tide, but 
people say there is everything in a good beginning, 
and she may have breathed in unconsciously the 
fragrance of evergreens and holiday dinners; while 
the peals of sleigh-bells and the laughter of happy 
children may have fallen upon her baby ears and 
wakened in them a glad surprise at the merry world 
she had come to live in. 

Her cheeks and lips were as red as holly-berries: 
her hair was for all the world the color of a Christ¬ 
mas candle-flame; her eyes were bright as stars ; 




IS A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHILD 1 ’ 














A LITTLE SNOW BIRD 


9 


her laugh like a chime of Christmas-bells, and her 
tiny hands forever outstretched in giving. 

Such a generous little creature you never saw I A 
spoonful of bread and milk had always to be taken 
by Mamma or nurse before Carol could enjoy her 
supper; whatever bit of cake or sweetmeat found its 
way into her pretty fingers was straightway broken 
in half 'to be shared with Donald, Paul, or Hugh ; 
and when they made believe nibble the morsel with 
affected enjoyment, she would clap her hands and 
crow with delight. 

“ Why does she do it ? 99 asked Donald thought- 
fully. “ None of us boys ever did.” 

“ I hardly know,” said Mamma, catching her 
darling to her heart, u except that she is a little 
Christmas child, and so she has a tiny share of the 
blessedest birthday the world ever knew! ” 


DROOPING WINGS 


T was December, ten years later 

Carol had seen nine Christmas 
trees lighted on her birthdays, one 
after another; nine times she had 
assisted in the holiday festivities of 
the household, though in her babyhood her share 
of the gayeties was somewhat limited. 

For five years, certainly, she had hidden presents 
for Mamma and Papa in their own bureau drawers, 
and harbored a number of secrets sufficiently large 
to burst a baby brain, had it not been for the re¬ 
lief gained by whispering them all to Mamma, at 
night, when she was in her crib, a proceeding which 
did not in the least lessen the value of a secret in 
her innocent mind. 

For five years she had heard “’Twas the night, 
before Christmas,” and hung up a scarlet stocking 
many sizes too large for her, and pinned a sprig of 
holly on her little white nightgown* to show Santa 







DROOPING WINGS 


II 


Claus that she was a “truly” Christmas child, 
and dreamed of fur-coated saints and toy-packs and 
reindeer, and wished everybody a a Merry Christ¬ 
mas ” before it was light in the morning, and lent 
every one of her new toys to the neighbors’ chil¬ 
dren before noon, and eaten turkey and plum- 
pudding, and gone to bed at night in a trance of 
happiness at the day’s pleasures. 

Donald was away at college now. Paul and 
Hugh were great manly fellows, taller than their 
mother. Papa Bird had gray hairs in his whiskers; 
and Grandma, God bless her, had been four Christ' 
mases in heaven. 

But Christmas in the Birds’ Nest was scarcely 
as merry now as it used to be in the bygone years, 
for the little child, that once brought such an added 
blessing to the day, lay month after month a pa¬ 
tient, helpless invalid, in the room where she was 
born. She had never been very strong in body, 
and it was with a pang of terror her mother and 
father noticed, soon after she was five years old, 
that she began to limp, ever so slightly; to com¬ 
plain too often of weariness, and to nestle close to 
her mother, saying she “ would rather not go out 
to play, please.” The illness was slight at first, 
and hope was always stirring in Mrs. Bird’s heart 


12 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


“ Carol would feel stronger in the summer-time ; 99 
or, “ She would he better when she had spent a year 
In the country ;’ 7 or, “She would outgrow it;” or, 
1,6 They would try a new physician; ” but by and 
by it came to be all too sure that no physician 
save One could make Carol strong again, and that 
no “ summer-time ” nor “ country air, 7 ' unless it 
were the everlasting summer-time in a heavenly 
country, could bring back the little girl to health. 

The cheeks and lips that were once as red as 
holly-berries faded to faint pink; the star-like eyes 
grew softer, for they often gleamed through tears; 
and the gay child-laugh, that had been like a chime 
of Christmas bells, gave place to a smile so lovely, 
so touching, so tender and patient, that it filled 
every corner of the house with a gentle radiance 
that might have come from the face of the Christ 1 
child himself. 

Love could do nothing; and when we have said 
that we have said all, for it is stronger than any¬ 
thing else in the whole wide world. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bird were talking it over one evening, when all 
the children were asleep. A famous physician had 
visited them that day, and told them that some time, 
it might be in one year, it might be in more, Carol 
would slip quietly off into heaven, whence she came. 


DROOPING WINGS 


13 


I 

“ It is no use to close our eyes to it any longer,” 
said Mr. Bird, as lie paced up and down the library 
floor; “ Carol will never be well again. It almost 
seems as if I could not bear it when I think of that 
loveliest child doomed to lie there day after day, 
and, what is still more, to suffer pain that we are 
helpless to keep away from her. Merry Christmas, 
indeed; it gets to be the saddest day in the year 
to me ! ” and poor Mr. Bird sank into a chair by the 
table, and buried his face in his hands to keep his 
wife from seeing the tears that would come in spite 
of all his efforts. 

“ But, Donald, dear,” said sweet Mrs. Bird, with 
trembling voice, “ Christmas Day may not be so 
merry with us as it used, but it is very happy, and 
that is better, and very blessed, and that is better 
yet. I suffer chiefly for Carol’s sake, but I have 
almost given up being sorrowful for my own. I am 
too happy in the child, and I see too clearly what 
she has done for us and the other children. Donald 
and Paul and Hugh were three strong, willful, 
boisterous boys, but now you seldom see such tender¬ 
ness, devotion, thought for others, and self-denial in 
lads of their years. A quarrel or a hot word is almost 
unknown in this house, and why ? Carol would hear 
it, and it would distress her 9 she is so full of love and 


14 


THE BIRDS" CHRISTMAS CAROL 


goodness. The boys study with all their might and 
main. Why ? Partly, at least, because they like to 
teach Carol, and amuse her by telling her what they 
read. When the seamstress comes, she likes to sew 
in Miss Carol’s room, because there she forgets her 
own troubles, which, Heaven knows, are sore enough! 
And as for me, Donald, I am a better woman every 
day for Carol’s sake; I have to be her eyes, ears, 
feet, hands, — her strength, her hope ; and she, my 
own little child, is my example ! ” 

“ I was wrong, dear heart,” said Mr. Bird more 
cheerfully ; “ we will try not to repine, but to re¬ 
joice instead, that we have an ‘ angel of the house.’ ” 
u And as for her future,” Mrs. Bird went on, “ I 
think we need not be over-anxious. I feel as if she 
did not belong altogether to us, but that when she 
has done what God sent her for, He will take her 
back to Himself — and it may not be very long ! ” 
Here it was poor Mrs. Bird’s turn to break down, 
and Mr» Bird’s turn to comfort her. 


THE BIRDS’ NEBT 


AROL herself knew nothing of mo* 
therly tears and fatherly anxieties; 
she lived on peacefully in the room 
where she was born. 

But you never would have known 
that room ; for Mr. Bird had a great deal of money, 
and though he felt sometimes as if he wanted to 
throw it all in the sea, since it could not buy a 
strong body for his little girl, yet he was glad to 
make the place she lived in just as beautiful as it 
could be. 

The room had been extended by the building of a 
large addition that hung out over the garden below, 
and was so filled with windows that it might have 
been a conservatory. The ones on the side were 
thus still nearer the Church of Our Saviour than 
they used to be ; those in front looked out on the 
beautiful harbor, and those in the back commanded 
a view of nothing in particular but a narrow alley ; 



THE BIRDS 5 CHRISTMAS CAROL 


nevertheless, they were pleasantest of all to Carols 
for the Ruggles family lived in the alley, and the 
nine little, middle-sized, and big Ruggles children 
were a source of inexhaustible interest* 

The shutters could all be opened and Carol could 
take a real sun-bath in this lovely glass house, or 
they could all be closed when the dear head ached 
or the dear eyes were tired. The carpet was of soft 
gray, with clusters of green bay and holly leaves 
The furniture was of white wood, on which an artist 
had painted snow scenes and Christmas trees and 
groups of merry children ringing bells and singing 
carols. 

Donald had made a pretty, polished shelf, and' 
screwed it on the outside of the foot-board, and the 
boys always kept this full of blooming plants, which 
they changed from time to time ; the head-board, 
too, had a bracket on either side, where there were 
pots of maiden-hair ferns. 

Love-birds and canaries hung in their golden 
houses in the windows, and they, poor caged things, 
could hop as far from their wooden perches as 
Carol could venture from her little white bed. 

On one side of the room was a bookcase filled with 
hundreds — yes, I mean it — with hundreds and 
hundreds of books; books with gay-colored pictures, 


THE BIRDS* NEST 


17 


books without; books with black and white outline 
sketches, books with none at all; books with verses, 
books with stories; books that made children laugh, 
and some, only a few, that made them cry; books 
with words of one syllable for tiny boys and girls, 
and books with words of fearful length to puzzle 
wise ones. 

This was Carol's a Circulating Library/' Every 
Saturday she chose ten books, jotting their names 
down in a diary; into these she slipped cards that 
said: — 

“ Please keep this book two weeks and read it. 
With love, Carol Bird/' 

Then Mrs. Bird stepped into her carriage and 
took the ten books to the Children's Hospital, and 
brought home ten others that she had left there the 
fortnight before. 

This was a source of great happiness; for some of 
the Hospital children that were old enough to print 
or write, and were strong enough to do it, wrote 
Carol sweet little letters about the books, and she 
answered them, and they grew to be friends. (It 
is very funny, but you do not always have to see 
people to love them. Just think about it, and tell 

me if it isn’t so.) 

There was a high wainscoting of wood about the 


u 


THE BIRDS* CHRISTMAS CAROL 


room, and on top of this, in a narrow gilt framework, 
ran a row of illuminated pictures, illustrating fairy 
tales, all in dull blue and gold and scarlet and silver. 
From the door to the closet there was the story of 
“ The Fair One with Golden Locks ; ” from closet to 
bookcase, ran “ Puss in Boots ; 5 from bookcase to 
fireplace, was “ Jack the Giant-killer; ” and on the 
other side of the room were “ Hop o’ my Thumb,” 
“ The Sleeping Beauty,” and “ Cinderella.” 

Then there was a great closet full of beautiful 
things to wear, but they were all dressing-gowns and 
slippers and shawls; and there were drawers full of 
toys and games, but they were such as you could 
play with on your lap. There were no ninepins, nor 
balls, nor bows and arrows, nor bean bags, nor ten¬ 
nis rackets; but, after all, other children needed 
these more than Carol Bird, for she was always 
happy and contented, whatever she had or whatever 
she lacked; and after the room had been made so 
lovely for her, on her eighth Christmas, she always 
called herself, in fun, a “ Bird of Paradise.” 

On these particular December days she was happier 
than usual, for Uncle Jack was coming from England 
to spend the holidays. Dear, funny, jolly, loving, 
wise Uncle Jack, who came every two or three years, 
and brought so much joy with him that the world 




THE BIRDS* NEST 


19 


looked as black as a thunder-cloud for a week after 
he went away again. 

The mail had brought this letter: — 


London, November 28 , 188 -. 

Wish you merry Christinas, you dearest bindings in America ! 
Preen your feathers, and stretch the Birds’ nest a trifle, if you 
please, and let Uncle Jack in for the holidays. I am coming 
with such a trunk full of treasures that you ’ll have to borrow 
the stockings of Barnum’s Giant and Giantess ; I am coming 
to squeeze a certain little lady-bird until she cries for mercy; I 
am coming to see if I can And a boy to take care of a black 
pony that I bought lately. It’s the strangest thing I ever knew; 
I’ve hunted all over Europe, and can’t find a boy to suit me! 
I ’ll tell you why. I’ve set my heart on finding one with 
dimple in his chin, because this pony particularly likes dimples! 
[“ Hurrah ! ” cried Hugh ; “ bless my dear dimple ; I ’ll never be 
ashamed of it again.”] 

Please drop a note to the clerk of the weather, and have a 
good, rousing snow-storm — say on the twenty-second. None of 
your meek, gentle, nonsensical, shilly-shallying snow-storms ; not 
the sort where the flakes float lazily down from the sky as if 
they did n’t care whether they ever got here or not and then 
melt away as soon as they touch the earth, but a regular busi¬ 
ness-like whizzing, whirring, blurring, cutting snow-storm, war¬ 
ranted to freeze and stay on ! 

I should like rather a LARGE Christmas tree, if it’s con¬ 
venient : not one of those “ sprigs,” five or six feet high, that 
you used to have three or four years ago, when the birdlings 
wer® not fairly feathered out; but a tree of some size. Set it 


20 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


ap in the garret, if necessary, and then we can cut a hole in the 
roof if the tree chances to he too high for the room. 

Tell Bridget to begin to fatten a turkey. Tell her that by 
the twentieth of December that turkey must not be able to 
stand on its legs for fat, and then on the next three days she 
must allow it to recline easily on its side, and stuff it to burst/ 
ing. (One ounce of stuffing beforehand is worth a pound 
afterwards.) 

The pudding must be unusually huge, and darkly, deeply, 
lugubriously blue in color. It must be stuck so full of plums 
that the pudding itself will ooze out into the pan and not be 
brought on to the table at all. I expect to be there by the 
twentieth, to manage these little things myself, — remembering 
it is the early Bird that catches the worm, — but give you the 
instructions in case I should be delayed. 

And Carol must decide on the size of the tree — she knows 
best, she was a Christmas child; and she must plead for the 
snow-storm — the “ clerk of the weather ” may pay some attem 
tion to her ; and she must look up the boy with the dimple for 
me — she’s likelier to find him than I am, this minute. She 
must advise about the turkey, and Bridget must bring the 
pudding to her bedside and let her drop every separate 
plum into it and stir it once for luck, or I ’ll not eat a single 
slice — for Carol is the dearest part of Christmas to Uncle 
Jack, and he ’ll have none of it without her. She is better than 
all the turkeys and puddings and apples and spare-ribs and 
wreaths and garlands and mistletoe and stockings and chim¬ 
neys and sleigh-bells in Christendom! She is the very sweet¬ 
est Christmas Carol that was ever written, said, sung, or 
chanted, and I am coming as fast as ships and railway trains 
can carry me, to tell her so 0 


THE BIRDS 5 NEST 


Caroles joy knew no bounds. Mr. and Mrs. Bird 
laughed like children and kissed each other for 
sheer delight, and when the boys heard it they 
simply whooped like wild Indians; until the 
Ruggles family, whose back yard joined their gar¬ 
den, gathered at the door and wondered what was 
* up ” in the big house. 


























* BIBiDS OF A FEATHER FLOOR TOGETHER 


n 


ill 



NCLE JACK did really come on the 
twentieth. He was not detained by 
business, nor did he get left behind 
nor snowed up, as frequently happens 
in stories, and in real life too, I am 
afraid. The snow-storm came also; and the turkey 
nearly died a natural and premature death from 
overeating. Donald came, too; Donald, with a 
line of down upon his upper lip, and Greek and 
Latin on his tongue, and stores of knowledge in his 
handsome head, and stories —- bless me, you could n’t 
turn over a chip without reminding Donald of some¬ 
thing that happened “at College.” One or the 
other was always at Carol’s bedside, for they fan- 
cied her paler than she used to be, and they could 
not bear her out of sight. It was Uncle Jack, 
though, who sat beside her in the winter twilights. 
The room was quiet, and almost dark, save for the 
snow-light outside, and the flickering flame of the 







BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOOR TOGETHER 23 


fire, that danced over the “ Sleeping Beauty's ” 
face and touched the Fair One’s golden locks with 
ruddier glory. Carol’s hand (all too thin and white 
these latter days) lay close clasped in Uncle Jack’s, 
and they talked together quietly of many, many 
things. 

“ I want to tell you all about my plans for Christ¬ 
mas this year, Uncle Jack,” said Carol, on the first 
evening of his visit, “ because it will be the loveliest 
one I ever had. The boys laugh at me for caring 
so much about it; but it is n’t altogether because it 
is Christmas, nor because it is my birthday ; but 
long, long ago, when I first began to be ill, I used 
to think, the first thing when I waked on Christ¬ 
mas morning, ‘ To-day is Christ’s birthday — and 
mine!* I did not put the words close together, 
you know, because that made it seem too bold ; but 
I first said, 4 Christ's birthday,’ out loud, and then, 
in a minute, softly to myself — 6 and mine! ’ 
< Christ’s birthday — and mine ! 9 And so I do 
not quite feel about Christmas as other girls do. 
Mamma says she supposes that ever so many other 
children have been born on that day. I often won¬ 
der where they are, Uncle Jack, and whether it is 
& dear thought to them, too, or whether I am so 
much m bed^ and so often alone, that it means 


24 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


more to me. Oil, I do hope that none of them are 
poor, or cold, or hungry; and I wish — I wish they 
were all as happy as I, because they are really my 
little brothers and sisters. Now, Uncle Jack dear, 
I am going to try and make somebody happy every 
single Christmas that I live, and this year it is to 
be the 6 Ruggleses in the rear/ 

“ That large and interesting brood of children in 
the little house at the end of the back garden ? ” 

“ Yes ; is n’t it nice to see so many together? — 
and, Uncle Jack, why do the big families always 
live in the small houses, and the small families in 
the big houses? ; We ought to call them the 
Ruggles children, of course; but Donald began 
talking of them as the 6 Ruggleses in the rear/ and 
Papa and Mamma took it up, and now we cannot 
seem to help it. The house was built for Mr. Car- 
ter’s coachman, but Mr. Carter lives in Europe, and 
the gentleman who rents his place for him does n’t 
care what happens to it, and so this poor family 
came to live there. When they first moved in, I 
used to sit in my window and watch them play in 
their back yard; they are so strong, and jolly, and 
good-natured; — and then, one day, I had a ter¬ 
rible headache, and Donald asked them if they 
would please not scream quite so loud, and they 


BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER 25 


explained that they were having a game of circus, 
but that they would change and play ‘ Deaf and 
Dumb Asylum’ all the afternoon.” 

“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Uncle Jack, “what an 
obliging family, to be sure!” 

“ Yes, we all thought it very funny, and I smiled 
at them from the window when I was well enough 
to be up again. Now, Sarah Maud comes to her 
door when the children come home from school, 
and if Mamma nods her head, 6 Yes/ that means 
* Carol is very well,’ and then you ought to hear 
the little Ruggleses yell, — I believe they try to see 
how much noise they can make; but if Mamma 
shakes her head, * No/ they always play at quiet 
games. Then, one day, 4 Cary/ my pet canary, 
flew out of her cage, and Peter Ruggles caught her 
and brought her back, and I had him up here in 
my room to thank him.” 

“ Is Peter the oldest ? ” 

“ No; Sarah Maud is the oldest — she helps do 
the washing ; and Peter is the next. He is a dress¬ 
maker’s boy.” 

“ And which is the pretty little red-haired girl?*' 

“ That’s Kitty.” 

€S And the fat youngster ? ” 

u Baby Larry? s 


26 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


“ And that -— most freckled one ? ” 

“ Now, don’t laugh — that ’s Peoria.” 

“ Carol, you are joking/' 

“No, really, Uncle dear. She was horn in Pe 
oria ; that’s all.” 

“ And is the next boy Oshkosh ? ” 

“ No,” laughed Carol, “ the others are Susan, and 
Clement, and Eily, and Cornelius; they all look 
exactly alike, except that some of them have more 
freckles than the others.” 

“How did you ever learn all their names?” 

“ Why, I have what I call a i window-school.* It 
is too cold now ; but in warm weather I am wheeled 
out on my balcony, and the Ruggleses climb up 
and walk along our garden fence, and sit down on 
the roof of our carriage-house. That brings them 
quite near, and I tell them stories. On Thanks¬ 
giving Day they came up for a few minutes, — it 
was quite warm at eleven o’clock, — and we told 
each other what we had to be thankful for; but 
they gave such queer answers that Papa had to run 
away for fear of laughing; and I could n’t under¬ 
stand them very well. Susan was thankful for 
‘ trunks ,’ of all things in the world; Cornelius, for 
‘ horse-cars ; 9 Kitty, for 6 pork steak ; ’ while Clem, 
who is very quiet, brightened up when I came to 


BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER 21 

him, and said he was thankful for * his lame 
puppy. 9 Was n’t that pretty ? ” 

“ It might teach some of us a lesson, might n’t it, 
little girl ? ” 

“ That’s what Mamma said. Now I’m going to 
give this whole Christmas to the Ruggleses; and, 
Uncle Jack, I earned part of the money myself.” 
u You, my bird ; how ? ” 

“ Well, you see, it could not be my own, own 
Christmas if Papa gave me all the money, and I 
thought to really keep Christ’s birthday I ought to 
do something of my very own ; and so I talked 
with Mamma. Of course she thought of something 
lovely ; she always does : Mamma’s head is just 
brimming over with lovely thoughts, — ail I have 
to do is ask, and out pops the very one I want 
This thought was to let her write down, just as 1 
told her, a description of how a child lived in her 
own room for three years, and what she did to 
amuse herself; and we sent it to a magazine and 
got twenty-five dollars for it. Just think ! ” 

“Well, well,” cried Uncle Jack, “my little girl 
a real author ! And what are you going to do 
with this wonderful 6 own ’ money of yours ? ” 

“ I shall give the nine Ruggleses a grand Christ¬ 
mas dinner here in this very room — that will be 


28 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


Papa’s contribution, — and afterwards a beautifu: 
Christmas tree, fairly blooming with presents — 
that will be my part; for I have another way of 
adding to my twenty-five dollars, so that I can buy 
nearly anything I choose. I should like it very 
much if you would sit at the head of the table, 
Uncle Jack, for nobody could ever be frightened of 
you, you dearest, dearest, dearest thing that ever 
was! Mamma is going to help us, but Papa and 
the boys are going to eat together downstairs foi 
fear of making the little Ruggleses shy; and after 
we Ve had a merry time with the tree we can open 
my window and all listen together to the music at 
the evening church-service, if it comes before the 
children go. I have written a letter to the organ¬ 
ist, and asked him if I might have the two songs I 
like best. Will you see if it is all right?” 

Birds’ Nest, December 21, 188-. 

Dear Mr. Wilkie, — I am the little girl who lives next 
door to the church, and, as I seldom go out, the music on prac¬ 
tice days and Sundays is one of my greatest pleasures. 

I want to know if you can have “ Carol, brothers, carol,” on 
Christmas night, and if the boy who sings “ My ain countree” so 
beautifully may please sing that too. I think it is the loveliest 
thing in the world, but it always makes me cry ; does n’t it you ? 

If it is n’t too much trouble, I hope they can sing them both 
quite early, as after ten o’clock I may be asleep. 

Yours respectfully, . Carol Bum 


f 


BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER 29 

P. S. —- The reason I like “ Carol, brothers, carol,” is be* 
cause the clioir-boys sang it eleven years ago, the morning I 
was born, and put it into Mamma’s head to call me Carol. 
She did n’t remember then that my other name would be Bird, 
because she was half asleep, and could only think of one thing 
at a time. Donald says if I had been born on the Fourth of 
July they would have named me “Independence,” or if on the 
twenty-second of February, “Georgina,” or even “Cherry,” 
like Cherry in “ Martin Chuzzlewit; ” but I like my own name 
and birthday best. Yours truly, 

Carol Bird. 

Uncle Jack thought the letter quite right, and 
did not even smile at her telling the organist so 
many family items. 

The days flew by as they always fly in holiday 
time, and it was Christmas Eve before anybody 
knew it. The family festival was quiet and very 
pleasant, but almost overshadowed by the grander 
preparations for the next day. Carol and Elfrida, 
her pretty German nurse, had ransacked books, and 
introduced so many plans, and plays, and customs, 
and merry-makings from Germany, and Holland, 
and England, and a dozen other countries, that you 
would scarcely have known how or where you were 
keeping Christmas. Even the dog and the cat had 
enjoyed their celebration under Carol’s direction. 
Each had a tiny table with a lighted candle in the 


BO 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


centre, and a bit of Bologna sausage placed very 
near it; and everybody laughed till the tears stood 
in their eyes to see Villikins and Dinah struggle to 
nibble the sausages, and at the same time to evade 
the candle flame. Villikins barked, and sniffed, 
and howled in impatience, and after many vain at¬ 
tempts succeeded in dragging off the prize, though 
he singed his nose in doing it. Dinah, meanwhile, 
watched him placidly, her delicate nostrils quiver¬ 
ing with expectation, and, after all excitement had 
subsided, walked with dignity to the table, her 
beautiful gray satin trail sweeping behind her, and, 
calmly putting up one velvet paw, drew the sausage 
gently down, and walked out of the room without 
turning a hair, so to speak. Elfrida had scattered 
handfuls of seed over the snow in the garden, that 
the wild birds might have a comfortable breakfast 
next morning, and had stuffed bundles of dry 
grasses in the fireplaces, so that the reindeer of 
Santa Claus could refresh themselves after their 
long gallops across country. This was really only 
done for fun, but it pleased Carol. 

And when, after dinner, the whole family had 
gone to the church to see the Christmas decorations, 
Carol limped out on her slender crutches, and with 
Elfrida*s help, placed all the family boots in a row 


BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER 31 


in the upper halL That was to keep the dear ones 
from quarreling all through the year 0 There were 
Papa’s stout top boots; Mamma’s pretty buttoned 
shoes next; then Uncle Jack’s, Donald’s, Paul’s, 
and Hugh’s; and at the end of the line her own 
little white worsted slippers. Last, and sweetest of 
all, like the children in Austria, she put a lighted 
candle in her window to guide the dear Christ- 
child, lest he should stumble u> the dark night as 
he passed up the deserted street. This done, she 
dropped into bed, a rather tired, but very happy 
Christmas fairy. 






































V 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 

EFORE the earliest Ruggles could 
wake and toot his five-cent tin horn, 
Mrs. Ruggles was up and stirring 
about the house, for it was a gala 
day in the family. Gala day! I 
should think so ! Were not her nine “ childern ” 
invited to a dinner-party at the great house, and 
were n’t they going to sit down free and equal with 
the mightiest in the land?' She had been prepar¬ 
ing for this grand occasion ever since the receipt of 
Carol Bird’s invitation, which, by the way, had been 
speedily enshrined in an old photograph frame and 
hung under the looking-glass in the most promi¬ 
nent place in the kitchen, where it stared the occa¬ 
sional visitor directly in the eye, and made him livid 
with envy: — 

Birds’ Nest, December 17, 188- 
Dear Mrs. Ruggles, — I am going to have a dinner-party 
on Christmas Day, and would like to have all your children 
tome. I want them every one, please, from Sarah Maud to 







SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 83 


Baby Larry, Mamma says dinner will be at half past five, and 
the Christmas tree at seven; so you may expect them home at 
nine o’ clock. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 
New Year, I am Yours truly, 

Carol Bird. 


Breakfast was on the table promptly at seven 
o’ clock, and there was very little of it, too; for it 
was an excellent day for short rations, though Mrs. 
Ruggles heaved a sigh as she reflected that the 
boys, with their India-rubber stomachs, would be 
just as hungry the day after the dinner-party as if 
they had never had any at all. 

As soon as the scanty meal was over, she am 
nounced the plan of the campaign : “ Now, Susan, 
you an’ Kitty wash up the dishes; an’ Peter, can’t 
yer spread up the beds, so’t I can git ter cuttin’ out 
Larry’s new suit ? I ain’t satisfied with his clo’es, 
an’ I thought in the night of a way to make him a 
dress out o’ my old red plaid shawl — kind o’ Scotch 
style, ” ’ fringe ’t the bottom. — 

Eily, you gv, ^ie comb and take the snarls out 
the fringe, that’s a lady! You little young ones 
clear out from under foot! Clem, you and Con hop 
into bed with Larry while 1 wash yer underflan- 
nins ; ’t won’t take long to dry 'em. -—- Yes, I know 
it’s bothersome, but yer can’t go int’ society thout 


84 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


takm some trouble, n- anyhow X could n*t git 
round to ’em last night. — Sarah Maud, I think 
? t would be perfeckly han’som’ if you ripped them 
brass buttons off yer uncle’s policeman’s coat ’n’ 
sewed ’em in a row up the front o’ yer green skirt. 
Susan, you must iron out yours ’n’ Kitty’s apurns; 
V there, I come mighty near forgettin’ Peory’s 
stockin’s ! I counted the whole lot last night when 
I was washin’ of ’em, ’n’ there ain’t but nineteen 
anyhow yer fix ’em, ’n’ no nine pairs mates nohow ; 
’n’ X ain’t goin’ ter have my childern wear odd 
stockin’s to a dinner-comp'ny, fetched up as I was ! 
— Eily, can’t you run out and ask Mis’ Cullen ter 
lend me a pair o’ stockin’s for Peory, ’n’ tell her if 
she will, Peory ’ll give Jim half her candy when she 
gets home. Won’t yer, Peory ? ” 

Peoria was young and greedy, and thought the 
remedy so out of all proportion to the disease, that 
she set up a deafening howl at the projected bar¬ 
gain — a howl so rebel ’t ,t of 

season that her mother stai ^®.Aon with 

flashing eye and uplifted hand; but she let it fall 
suddenly, saying, “ No, I vow I won’t lick ye 
Christmas Day, if yer drive me crazy ; but speak up 
smart, now, ’n’ say whether yer’d ruther give Jim 
Cullen half yer candy or go bare-legged ter the 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 35 


party ? ” The matter being put so plainly, Peoria 
collected her faculties, dried her tears, and chose 
the lesser evil, Clem having hastened the decision 
by an affectionate wink, that meant he ’d go halves 
with her on his candy. 

“ That’s a lady ! ” cried her mother. “ Now, you 
young ones that ain’t doin’ nothin’, play all yer 
want ter before noontime, for after ye git through 
eatin’ at twelve o’clock me ’n’ Sarah Maud ’s goin’ 
ter give yer sech a washin’ ’n’ combin’ ’n’ dressin’ 
as yer never had before ’n’ never will agin likely, 
? n’ then I ’m goin’ to set yer down ’n’ give yer two 
solid hours trainin’ in manners ; ’n’ ’t won’t be no 
foolin’ neither.” 

“ All we ’ve got ter do’s go eat! ” grumbled 
Peter. 

“Well, that’s enough,” responded his mother; 
“ there’s more ’n one way of eatin’, let me tell yer, 
’n’ you’ve got a heap ter learn about it, Peter Bug¬ 
gies. Land sakes, I wish you childern could see 
the way I was fetched up to eat. I never took a 
meal o’ vittles in the kitchen before I married Rug- 
gles ; but yer can’t keep up that style with nine 
young ones ’n’ yer Pa always off ter sea.” 

The big Ruggleses worked so well, and the little 
Ruggleses kept from “ under foot so success* 


86 THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 

fully, that by one o’clock nine complete toilets 
were laid out in solemn grandeur on the beds. I 
say, “ complete ; ” but I do not know whether 
they would be called so in the best society. The 
law of compensation had been well applied: he that 
had necktie had no cuffs; she that had sash had 
no handkerchief, and vice versa ; but they all had 
shoes and a certain amount of clothing, such as it 
was, the outside layer being in every case quite 
above criticism. 

<c Now, Sarah Maud,” said Mrs. Ruggles, her face 
shining with excitement, “ everything’s red up an' 
we can begin. I’ve got a boiler ’n’ a kettle ’n’ a 
pot o’ hot water. Peter, you go into the back bed¬ 
room, ’n’ I ’ll take Susan, Kitty, Peory, ’n’ Cor¬ 
nelius; ’n’ Sarah Maud, you take Clem, ’n’ Eily, ’n* 
Larry, one to a time. Scrub ’em ’n’ rinse ’em, or 
J t any rate git’s fur’s yer can with ’em, and then 
I ’ll finish ’em off while you do yerself.” 

Sarah Maud could n’t have scrubbed with any 
more decision and force if she had been doing 
floors, and the little Ruggleses bore it bravely, not 
from natural heroism, but for the joy that was set 
before them. Not being satisfied, however, with 
the u tone ” of their complexions, and feeling that 
the number of freckles to the square inch was too 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 81 


many to be tolerated in the highest social circles, 
she wound up operations by applying a little Bris¬ 
tol brick from the knife-board, which served as the 
proverbial “last straw,” from under which the 
little Ruggleses issued rather red and raw and out 
of temper. When the clock struck four they were 
all clothed, and most of them in their right minds, 
ready for those last touches that always take the 
most time. 

Kitty’s red hair was curled in thirty-four ringlets, 
Sarah Maud’s was braided in one pig-tail, and 
Susan’s and Eily’s in two braids apiece, while Peo¬ 
ria’s resisted all advances in the shape of hair oils 
and stuck out straight on all sides, like that of the 
Circassian girl of the circus — so Clem said ; and 
he was sent into the bedroom for it, too, from 
whence he was dragged out forgivingly, by Peoria 
herself, five minutes later. Then, exciting moment, 
came linen collars for some and neckties and bows 
for others, — a magnificent green glass breastpin 
was sewed into Peter’s purple necktie, —- and Eu¬ 
reka ! the Ruggleses were dressed, and Solomon in 
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these! 

A row of seats was then formed directly through 
the middle of the kitchen. Of course, there were 
not quite chairs enough for ten, since the family 


88 


THE BIRDS 5 CHRISTMAS CAROL 


had rarely wanted to sit down all at once, some 
body always being out or in bed, or otherwise en* 
gagedjbut the wood-box and the coal-hod finished 
out the line nicely, and nobody thought of grum¬ 
bling. The children took their places according to 
age, Sarah Maud at the head and Larry on the 
coal-hod, and Mrs. Ruggles seated herself in front, 
surveying them proudly as she wiped the sweat of 
honest toil from her brow. 

“Well,” she exclaimed, “if I do say so as 
should n’t, I never see a cleaner 
o 9 childern in my life ! I do wish Ruggles could 
look at ye for a minute! — Larry Ruggles, how 
many times have I got ter tell yer not ter keep 
pullin’ at yer sash ? Have n’t I told yer if it comes 
ontied, yer waist ’n* skirt ’ll part comp’ny in the 
middle, ’n’ then where ’ll yer be? — Now look me 
in the eye, all of yer! I’ve of’en told yer what 
kind of a family the McGrills was. I’ve got reason 
to be proud, goodness knows ! Your uncle is on 
the police force o’ New York city; you can take 
up the paper most any day an’ see his name printed 
right out — James McGrill, — V I can’t have my 
children fetched up common, like some folks’; when 
they go out they’ve got to have clo’es, and learn to 
act decent I Now 1 want ter see how yer goin’ to 


, more stylish mess 





“I WANT TER 8EE HOW YES GOIN’ TO BEHAVE” 















































































































SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO PLY 41 


behave when yer git there to-night. ’T ain’t so aw¬ 
ful easy as you think ’tis. Let’s start in at the 


beginnin’ ’n’ act out the whole business. Pile into 
the bedroom, there, every last one o’ ye, ’n’ show 
me how yer goin’ to go int’ the parlor. This ’ll be 
the parlor, ’n’ I ’ll be Mis’ Bird.” 

The youngsters hustled into the next room in 
high glee, and Mrs. Ruggles drew herself up in the 
chair with an infinitely haughty and purse-proud 
expression that much better suited a descendant of 
the McGrills than modest Mrs. Bird. 

The bedroom was small, and there presently em 
sued such a clatter that you would have thought a 
herd of wild cattle had broken loose. The door 
opened, and they straggled in, all the younger ones 
giggling, with Sarah Maud at the head, looking as 
if she had been caught in the act of stealing sheep; 
while Larry, being last in line, seemed to think the 
door a sort of gate of heaven which would be shut 
in his face if he did n’t get there in time; accord* 
ingly he struggled ahead of his elders and disgraced 
himself by tumbling in head foremost. 

Mrs. Ruggles looked severe. “ There, I knew 
yer ’d do it in some sech fool way ! Now go in 
there and try it over again, every last one o’ ye, ’n’ 
if Larry can’t come in on two legs he can stay ter 
home, — d’ yer hear ? 99 


THE BIRDS* CHRISTMAS CAROL 


42 

The matter began to assume a graver aspect; the 
little Ruggleses stopped giggling and backed into 
the bedroom, issuing presently with lock step, In¬ 
dian file, a scared and hunted expression on every 
countenance. 

“ No, no, no ! ” cried Mrs. Ruggles, in despair 
“ That’s worse yet; yer look for all the world like 
a gang o’ pris’ners I There ain’t no style ter that: 
spread out more, can’t yer, ’n’ act kind o’ careless- 
like — nobody’s goin’ ter kill ye ! That ain’t what 
a dinner-party is ! ” 

The third time brought deserved success, and 
the pupils took their seats in the row. “ Now, yer 
know,” said Mrs. Ruggles impressively, “ there ain’t 
enough decent hats to go round, ’n’ if there was I 
don’ know’s I’d let yer wear ’em, for the boys 
would never think to take ’em off when they got 
inside, for they never do — but anyhow, there ain’t 
enough good ones. Now, look me in the eye. 
You ’re only goin’ jest round the corner; you 
need n’t wear no hats, none of yer, ’n’ when yer 
get int’ the parlor, ’n’ they ask yer ter lay off yer 
hats, Sarah Maud must speak up ’n’ say it was seek 
a pleasant evenin’ ’n’ seek a short walk that yer 
left yer hats to home. Now, can yer remember?” 

All the little Ruggleses shouted, (( Yes, marm ! 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 48 

66 What have you got ter do with it? ” demanded 
their mother ; “ did I tell you to say it? Warn’t I 
talkin’ ter Sarah Maud ? ” 

The little Ruggl eses hung their diminished heads. 
“ Yes, marm,” they piped, more discreetly. 

“ Now we won’t leave nothin’ to chance; git up, 
ail o£ ye, an’ try it. — Speak up, Sarah Maud.” 

Sarah Maud’s tongue clove to the roof of her 
mouth. 

“ Quick! ” 

“ Ma thought — it was -— sech a pleasant hat that 
we’d -— we’d better leave our short walk to home,” 
recited Sarah Maud, in an agony of mental effort. 

This was too much for the boys. An earthquake 
of suppressed giggles swept all along the line. 

“ Oh, whatever shall I do with yer ? ” moaned the 
unhappy mother ; “ I s’pose I’ve got to learn it to 
yer ! ” — which she did, word for word, until Sarah 
Maud thought she could stand on her head and say 
it backwards. 

u Now, Cornelius, what are you goin’ ter say ter 
make yerself good comp’ny?” 

“ Do? Me ? Dunno ! ” said Cornelius, turning 
pale, with unexpected responsibility. 

66 Well, ye ain’t goin’ to set there like a bump on 
a log ’thout savin’ a word ter pay for yer vittles, ait 


44 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


ye ? Ask Mis’ Bird how she ’s feelin’ this evening 
or if Mr. Bird’s hevin’ a busy season, or how this 
kind o’ weather agrees with him, or somethin’ like 
that. — Now we’ll make b’lieve we’ve got ter the 
dinner — that won’t be so hard, ’cause yer ’ll have 
somethin’ to do — it’s awful bothersome to stan’ 
round an’ act stylish. — If they have napkins, Sarah 
Maud down to Peory may put ’em in their laps, ’n’ 
the rest of ye can tuck ’em in yer necks. Don’t 
eat with yer fingers — don’t grab no vittles off one 
’nother’s plates ; don’t reach out for nothin’, but 
wait till yer asked, ’n’ if you never git asked don’t 
git up and grab it. — Don’t spill nothin’ on the 
tablecloth, or like’s not Mis’ Bird ’ll send yer away 
from the table — ’n’ I hope she will if yer do! 
(Susan ! keep your handkerchief in your lap where 
Peory can borry it if she needs it, ’n’ I hope she ’ll 
know when she does need it, though I don’t expect 
it.) Now we ’ll try a few things ter see how they ’ll 
go ! Mr. Clement, do you eat cramb’ry sarse ? ” 

“ Bet yer life ! ” cried Clem, who in the excite¬ 
ment of the moment had not taken in the idea 
exactly and had mistaken this for an ordinary bo- 
som-of-the-family question. 

“ Clement McGrill Ruggles, do you mean to tell 
me that you ’d say that to a dinner-party ? I ’ll give 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY 45 


ye one more chance. Mr. Clement, will you take 
some of the cramb’ry ? ” 

“ Yes, marm, thank ye kindly, if you happen tei 
have any handy.” 

“ Very good, indeed ! But they won’t give yer 
two tries to-night,—yer just remember that! — 
Miss Peory, do you speak for white or dark meat ? ” 

“ I ain’t perticler as ter color, — anything that 
nobody else wants will suit me,” answered Peory 
with her best air. 

“ First-rate ! Nobody could speak more genteel 
than that. Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft 
sarse with your pudden ? ” 

“ Hard or soft ? Oh ! A little of both, if you 
please, an’ I ’m much obliged,” said Kitty, bowing 
with decided ease and grace; at which all the other 
Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her, and 
Peter grunted expressively, that their meaning 
might not be mistaken. 

“You just stop your gruntin’, Peter Ruggles; 
that warn’t greedy, that was all right. I wish I 
could git it inter your heads that it ain’t so much 
what yer say, as the way you say it. And don’t 
keep starin’ cross-eyed at your necktie pin, or I ’ll 
take it out ’n’ sew it on to Clem or Cornelius: 
Sarah Maud 11 keep her eye on it, V if it turns 



46 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


broken side out she ’ll tell yer. Gracious! 1 

should n’t think you’d ever seen nor worn no 
jool’ry in your life. — Eily, you an’ Larry J s too 
little to train, so you just look at the rest an’ do ’s 
they do, ’n’ the Lord have mercy on ye ’n’ help ye 
to act decent! Now, is there anything more ye ’d 
like to practice ? ” 

“ If yer tell me one more thing, I can’t set up 
an’ eat/’ said Peter gloomily; “I’m so cram full o’ 
manners now I’m ready ter bust, ’thout no dinner 
at all.” 

“ Me too,” chimed in Cornelius. 

“Well, I’m sorry for yer both,” rejoined Mrs. 
Ruggles sarcastically ; “ if the ’mount o’ manners 
yer’ve got on hand now troubles ye, you ’re dread¬ 
ful easy hurt! Now, Sarah Maud, after dinner, 
about once in so often, you must git up ’n’ say, ‘ I 
guess we’d better be goin’; ’ ’n’ if they say, ‘ Oh, 
no, set a while longer,’ yer can set; but if they 
don’t say nothin’ you’ve got ter get up ’n’ go. — 
Now hev yer got that int’ yer head? ” 

“About once in so often!” Could any words 
in the language be fraught with more terrible and 
wearing uncertainty? 

“Well,” answered Sarah Maud mournfully, 
“ seems as if this whole dinner-party set right 


I 


SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLA 4? 


square on top o’ me ! Mebbe I could manage my 
own manners, but to manage nine mannerses is 
worse ’n staying to home ! ” 

“ Oh, don’t fret,” said her mother, good-na^ 
turedly, now that the lesson was over; “ I guess 
you ’ll git along. I would n’t mind if folks would 
only say, ‘ Oh, childern will be childern ; ? but they 
won’t. They ’ll say, 6 Land o’ Goodness, who 
fetched them childern up ? 5 — It’s quarter past 
five, ’n’ yer can go now: — remember ’bout the 
hats, — don’t all talk ter once, — Susan, lend yei 
han’k’chief ter Peory, — Peter, don’t keep screwin’ 
yer scarf-pin, — Cornelius, hold yer head up 
straight, — Sarah Maud, don’t take yer eyes off o 
Larry, ’n’ Larry you keep holt o’ Sarah Maud ’n’ 
do jest as she says,-—’n’ whatever you do, all of 
yer, never forgit for one second that yer mother 
was a McGrilL” 


“ WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED, 

THE BIRDS BEGAN TO SING ! ” 

HE children went out of the back door 
quietly, and were presently lost to 
sight, Sarah Maud slipping and 
stumbling along absent-mindedly, as 
she recited rapidly under her breath, 
“ Itwassuchapleasantevenin’n’suchashortwalk, that 
wethoughtwe’dleaveourhatstohome. — Itwassucha 
pleasantevenin’n’suchashortwalk, thatwethoughtwe’d 
leaveourhatstohome.” 

Peter rang the door-bell, and presently a servant 
admitted them, and, whispering something in Sa¬ 
rah’s ear, drew her downstairs into the kitchen* 
The other Ruggleses stood in horror-stricken groups 
as the door closed behind their commanding officer j 
but there was no time for reflection, for a voice 
from above was heard, saying, “Come right up¬ 
stairs, please! ” 






WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED 


m 

“ TJbeirg not to make reply, 

Theirs not to reason why, 

Theirs but to do or die.” 

Accordingly they walked upstairs, and Elfrida, 
the nurse, ushered them into a room more splendid 
than anything they had ever seen. But, oh woe! 
where was Sarah Maud! and was it Fate that Mrs. 
Bird should say, at once, “ Did you lay your hats 
in the hall?” Peter felt himself elected by cir¬ 
cumstance the head of the family, and, casting one 
imploring look at tongue-tied Susan, standing next 
him, said huskily, “ It was so very pleasant — that 
-— that ” — “ That we had n’t good hats enough 

to go ’round,” put in little Susan, bravely, to help 
him out, and then froze with horror that the ill- 
fated words had slipped off her tongue. 

However, Mrs. Bird said, pleasantly, “ Of course 
you would n’t wear hats such a short distance — I 
forgot when I asked. Now will you come right in 
to Miss Carol’s room? She is so anxious to see 
you.” 

Just then Sarah Maud came up the back stairs, 
so radiant with joy from her secret interview with 
the cook that Peter could have pinched her with a 
clear conscience; and Carol gave them a joyful 
welcome. “ But where is Baby Larry ? ” she cried, 


50 


THE BIRDS 5 CHRISTMAS CAROL 


looking over the group with searching eye. “ Did n't 
he come ? ” 

a Larry ! Larry ! ” Good gracious, where was 
Larry ? They were all sure that he had come in 
with them, for Susan remembered scolding him for 
tripping over the door-mat. Uncle Jack went into 
convulsions of laughter. “ Are you sure there were 
nine of you ? ” he asked, merrily. 

u I think so, sir,” said Peoria, timidly; “ but 
anyhow, there was Larry; ” and she showed signs 
of weeping. 

“ Oh, well, cheer up!” cried Uncle Jack. 
6( Probably he ’s not lost — only mislaid. 1 ’ll go 
and find him before you can say Jack Robinson ! ” 

“ I ’ll go, too, if you please, sir,” said Sarah Maud. 
“ for it was my place to mind him, an’ if he’s lost 
I can’t relish my vittles ! 99 

The other Ruggleses stood rooted to the floor. 
Was this a dinner-party, forsooth ; and if so, why 
were such things ever spoken of as festive occa« 
sions ? 

Sarah Maud went out through the hall, calling, 
“ Larry ! Larry 1 ” and without any interval of sus¬ 
pense a thin voice piped up from below, “ Here I 
be ! 99 

The truth was that Larry, being deserted by his 


WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED 


51 


natural guardian, dropped behind the rest, and wrig¬ 
gled into the hat-tree to wait for her, having no no¬ 
tion of walking unprotected into the jaws of a fash* 
ionable entertainment. Finding that she did not 
come, he tried to crawl from his refuge and call 
somebody, when — dark and dreadful ending to a 
tragic day — he found that he was too much inter¬ 
twined with umbrellas and canes to move a single 
step. He was afraid to yell (when I have said 
this of Larry Ruggles I have pictured a state of 
helpless terror that ought to wring tears from every 
eye); and the sound of Sarah Maud’s beloved voice, 
some seconds later, was like a strain of angel music 
in his ears. Uncle Jack dried his tears, carried 
him upstairs, and soon had him in breathless fits of 
laughter, while Carol so made the other Ruggleses 
forget themselves that they were presently talking 
like accomplished diners-out. 

Carol’s bed had been moved into the farthest cor¬ 
ner of the room, and she was lying on the outside, 
dressed in a wonderful dressing-gown that looked 
like a fleecy cloud. Her golden hair fell in fluffy 
curls over her white forehead and neck, her cheeks 
flushed delicately, her eyes beamed with joy, and 
the children told their mother, afterwards, that she 
looked as beautiful as the angels in the picture 


52 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


There was a great bustle behind a huge screen in 
another part of the room, and at half past five this 
was taken away, and the Christmas dinner-table 
stood revealed. What a wonderful sight it was to 
the poor little Ruggles children, who ate their some¬ 
times scanty meals on the kitchen table! It blazed 
with tall colored candles, it gleamed with glass and 
silver, it blushed with flowers, it groaned with good 
things to eat; so it was not strange that the Rug- 
gleses, forgetting altogether that their mother was 
a McGrill, shrieked in admiration of the fairy spec¬ 
tacle. But Larry’s behavior was the most disgrace¬ 
ful, for he stood not upon the order of his going, 
but went at once for a high chair that pointed un¬ 
mistakably to him, climbed up like a squirrel, gave 
a comprehensive look at the turkey, clapped his 
hands in ecstasy, rested his fat arms on the table, 
and cried with joy, “ I beat the hull lot o’ yer ! ” 
Carol laughed until she cried, giving orders, 
meanwhile, — “ Uncle Jack, please sit at the head, 
Sarah Maud at the foot, and that will leave four on 
each side; Mamma is going to help Elfrida, so that 
the children need not look after each other, but 
just have a good time.” 

A sprig of holly lay by each plate, and nothing 
Would do but each little Ruggles must leave his 


WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED 58 

seat and have it pinned on by Carol, and as each 
course was served, one of them pleaded to take 
something to her. There was hurrying to and fro> 
I can assure you, for it is quite a difficult matter to 
serve a Christmas dinner on the third floor of a 
great city house; but if it had been necessary to 
carry every dish up a rope ladder the servants 
would gladly have done so. There were turkej 
and chicken, with delicious gravy and stuffing, and 
there were half a dozen vegetables, with cranberry 
jelly, and celery, and pickles; and as for the way 
these delicacies were served, the Euggleses never 
forgot it as long as they lived. 

Peter nudged Kitty, who sat next him, and said, 
“ Look, will yer, ev’ry feller’s got his own partic’lar 
butter; I s’pose that ’s to show you can eat that y n 
no more. No, it ain’t either, for that pig of a 
Peory’s just gettin 5 another helpin’! ” 

“ Yes,” whispered Kitty, a an’ the napkins is 
marked with big red letters! I wonder if that’s sc? 
nobody ’ll nip ’em ; an 5 oh, Peter, look at the pie 

tures stickin’ right on ter the dishes! Did yer 

? >> 

“ The plums is all took out o’ my eramb’ry sarse 
an’ it’s friz to a stiff jell 5 ! ” whispered Peoria, in 
;vild excitement, 


64 


THE BIRDS* CHRISTMAS CAROL 


u Hi — yah ! I got a wish-bone ! sang Larry, 
regardless of Sarah Maud’s frown; after which she 
asked to have his seat changed, giving as excuse 
that he ^gen’ally set beside her, an ? would feel 
strange; ” the true reason being that she desired to 
kick him gently, under the table, whenever he 
passed what might be termed a the McGrill line/* 

I declare to goodness/’ murmured Susan, on 
the other side, u there *s so much to look at I can’t 
scarcely eat nothin’ I 

16 Bet yer life I can ! said Peter, who had kept 
one servant busily employed ever since he sat down ; 
for, luckily, no one was asked by Uncle Jack 
whether he would have a second helping, but the 
dishes were quietly passed under their noses, and 
not a single Ruggles refused anything that was 
offered him, even unto the seventh time. 

Then, when Carol and Uncle Jack perceived that 
more turkey was a physical impossibility, the meats 
were taken off and the dessert was brought in — 
a dessert that would have frightened a strong man 
after such a dinner as had preceded it. Not so the 
Ruggleses — for a strong man is nothing to a small 
boy — and they kindled to the dessert as if the tur¬ 
key had been a dream and the six vegetables an 
optical delusion- There were plum-pudding, mine#* 














































WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED 


57 


pie, and ice-cream ; and there were nuts, and raisins, 
and oranges. Kitty chose ice-cream, explaining 
that she knew it “ by sight, though she had n’t 
never tasted none; ” but all the rest took the entire 
variety, without any regard to consequences. 

“My dear child,” whispered Uncle Jack, as he 
took Carol an orange, “ there is no doubt about the 
necessity of this feast, but I do advise you after this 
to have them twice a year, or quarterly perhaps, for 
the way these children eat is positively dangerous; 
I assure you I tremble for that terrible Peoria. 
I’m going to run races with her after dinner.” 

“ Never mind,” laughed Carol; “ let them have 
enough for once; it does my heart good to see 
them, and they shall come oftener next year.” 

The feast being over, the Ruggleses lay back in 
their chairs languidly, like little gorged boa-con¬ 
strictors, and the table was cleared in a trice. Then 
a door was opened into the next room, and there 
in a corner facing Carol’s bed, which had been 
wheeled as close as possible, stood the brilliantly 
lighted Christmas tree, glittering with gilded wal¬ 
nuts and tiny silver balloons, and wreathed with 
snowy chains of pop-corn. The presents had been 
bought mostly with Carol’s story-money, and were 
selected after long consultations with Mrs. Bird 


68 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


Each girl had a blue knitted hood, and each boy a 
red crocheted comforter, all made by Mamma, Carol, 
and Elfrida. ( “ Because if you buy everything, it 
doesn’t show so much love,” said Carol.) Then 
every girl had a pretty plaid dress of a different 
color, and every boy a warm coat of the right size. 
Here the useful presents stopped, and they were 
quite enough; but Carol had pleaded to give them 
something “ for fun.” “ I know they need the 
clothes,” she had said, when they were talking over 
the matter just after Thanksgiving, “ but they don’t 
care much for them, after all. Now, Papa, won’t 
you please let me go without part of my presents 
this year, and give me the money they would cost, 
to buy something to amuse the Ruggleses ? ” 

“ You can have both,” said Mr. Bird, promptly; 
is there any need of my little girl’s going without 
her own Christmas, I should like to know ? Spend 
all the money you like.” 

“ But that is n’t the thing,” objected Carol, nes¬ 
tling close to her father; “ it would n’t be mine. 
What is the use? Haven’t I almost everything al¬ 
ready, and am I not the happiest girl in the world 
this year, with Uncle Jack and Donald at home? 
You know very well it is more blessed to give than 
to receive: so why won’t you let me do it? You 


WHEN THE FIE WAS OPENED 59 

never look half as happy when you. are getting your 
presents as when you are giving us ours. Now, 
Papa, submit, or I shall have to be very firm and 
disagreeable with you ! ” 

“ Very well, your Highness, I surrender.” 

“ That’s a dear Papa! Now what were you go¬ 
ing to give me ? Confess ! ” 

“ A bronze figure of Santa Claus; and in the 
* little round belly that shakes when he laughs like 
a bowlful of jelly/ is a wonderful clock — oh, you 
would never give it up if you could see it! ” 

u Nonsense,” laughed Carol; “ as I never have to 
get up to breakfast, nor go to bed, nor catch trains, 
l think my old clock will do very well! Now, 
Mamma, what were you going to give me ? ” 

“ Oh, I had n’t decided. A few more books, and 
a gold thimble, and a smelling-bottle, and a music- 
box, perhaps.” 

“ Poor Carol,” laughed the child, merrily, “ she 
can afford to give up these lovely things, for there 
will still be left Uncle Jack, and Donald, and Paul, 
and Hugh, and Uncle Rob, and Aunt Elsie, and a 
dozen other people to fill her Christmas stocking I ” 
So Carol had her way, as she generally did; but 
it was usually a good way, which was fortunate, 
under the circumstances; and Sarah Maud had a set 



60 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


of Miss Alcott’s books, and Peter a modest silvef 
watch, Cornelius a tool-chest, Clement a dog-house 
for his lame puppy, Larry a magnificent Noah’s 
ark, and each of the younger girls a beautiful doll. 

You can well believe that everybody was very 
merry and very thankful. All the family, from Mr. 
Bird down to the cook, said that they had never 
seen so much happiness in the space of three hours; 
but it had to end, as all things do. The candles 
flickered and went out, the tree was left alone with 
its gilded ornaments, and Mrs. Bird sent the chil¬ 
dren downstairs at half past eight, thinking that 
Carol looked tired. 

“ Now, my darling, you have done quite enough 
for one day,” said Mrs. Bird, getting Carol into her 
little nightgown. “ I’m afraid you will feel worse 
to-morrow, and that would be a sad ending to such 
a charming evening.” 

“ Oh, was n’t it a lovely, lovely time,” sighed 
Carol. tc Prom first to last, everything was just 
right. I shall never forget Larry’s face when he 
looked at the turkey; nor Peter’s when he saw his 
watch ; nor that sweet, sweet Kitty’s smile when she 
kissed her dolly; nor the tears in poor, dull Sarah 
Maud’s eyes when she thanked me for her books f 

^ >y 

nor — 


WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED 


61 

“ But we must n’t talk any longer about it to* 
night/’ said Mrs. Bird, anxiously; “you are too 
tired, dear.” 

“ I am not so very tired, Mamma. I have felt 
well all day ; not a bit of pain anywhere. Perhaps 
this has done me good.” 

“ Perhaps; I hope so. There was no noise or 
confusion; it was just a merry time. Now, may I 
close the door and leave you alone, dear? Papa 
and I will steal in softly by and by to see if you 
are all right; but I think you need to be very 
quiet.” 

“ Oh, I’m willing to stay by myself; but I am 
not sleepy yet, and I am going to hear the music, 
you know.” 

“ Yes, I have opened the window a little, and 
put the screen in front of it, so that you won’t feel 
the air.” 

“Can I have the shutters open? and won’t you 
turn my bed, please? This morning I woke ever 
so early, and one bright, beautiful star shone in 
that eastern window. I never noticed it before, 
and I thought of the Star in the East, that guided 
the wise men to the place where the baby Jesus 
was. Good-night, Mamma. Such a happy, happy 
day!” 


62 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


“ Good-night, my precious Christmas Carol— 
mother’s blessed Christmas child.” 

“ Bend your head a minute, mother dear,” whis« 
pered Carol, calling her mother back. “ Mamma, 
dear, I do think that we have kept Christ’s birthday 
this time just as He would like it. Don’t you ? ” 
u \ am sure of it,” said Mrs. Bird, softly. 







vn 


THE BIRDLING FLIES AWAY 

HE Ruggleses had finished a last romp 
in the library with Paul and Hugh, 
and Uncle Jack had taken them 
home and stayed a while to chat 
with Mrs. Ruggles, who opened the 
door for them, her face all aglow with excitement 
and delight. When Kitty and Clem showed her 
the oranges and nuts that they had kept for her, 
she astonished them by saying that at six o’clock 
Mrs. Bird had sent her in the finest dinner she had 
ever seen in her life ; and not only that, but a piece 
of dress-goods that must have cost a dollar a yard 
if it cost a cent. 

As Uncle Jack went down the rickety steps he 
looked back into the window for a last glimpse of 
the family, as the children gathered about their 
mother, showing their beautiful presents again and 
again, — and then upward to a window in the great 
house yonder. “ A little child shall lead them,” he 






64 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


thought. “ Well, if— if anything ever happens to 
Carol, I will take the Buggleses under my wing.” 

“ Softly, Uncle Jack, 5 ’ whispered the hoys, as he 
walked into the library a while later. “ We are 
listening to the music in the church. The choir 
has sung ‘ Carol, brothers, carol,’ and now we think 
the organist is beginning to play 6 My ain countree 5 
for Carol.” 

“I hope she hears it,” said Mrs. Bird; “but 
they are very late to-night, and I dare not speak 
to her lest she should be asleep. It is almost ten 
o’clock.” 

The boy soprano, clad in white surplice, stood in 
the organ loft. The light shone full upon his 
crown of fair hair, and his pale face, with its seri¬ 
ous blue eyes, looked paler than usual. Perhaps it 
was something in the tender thrill of the voice, or in 
the sweet words, but there were tears in many eyes 
both in the church and in the great house next 
door. 

“I am far frae my hame, 

I am weary aften whiles 
For the langed-for hame-bringin*, 

An’ my Faether’s welcome smiles > 

An’ I ’ll ne’er be fu’ content, 

Until my e’en do see 



“MY AIN COUNTREE” 











































THE BIRDLING FLIES AWAY 


67 


The gowden gates o’ heaven 
In my ain countree. 

“The earth is decked wi’ flow’rs, 

Mony tinted, fresh an’ gay, 

An’ the birdies warble blythely, 

For my Faether made them sae; 

But these sights an’ these soun’s 
Will as naething be to me, 

When I hear the angels singin’ 

In my ain countree. 

“ Like a bairn to its mither, 

A wee birdie to its nest, 

I fain would be gangin’ noo 
Unto my Faether’s breast; 

For He gathers in His arms 

Helpless, worthless lambs like me, 

An’ carries them Himsel’ 

To his ain countree.” 

There were tears in many eyes, but not in Carol’s. 
The loving heart had quietly ceased to beat, and the 
“ wee birdie ” in the great house had flown to its 
u home nest.” Carol had fallen asleep ! But as to 
the song, I think perhaps, I cannot say, she heard 
it after all! 

• ••••••• 

So sad an ending to a happy day! Perhaps — to 
those who were left; and yet Carol’s mother, even 


(58 


THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL 


in the freshness of her grief, was glad that her 
darling had slipped away on the loveliest day of 
her life, out of its glad content, into everlasting 
peace. 

She was glad that she had gone as she had come, 
on the wings of song, when all the world was brim¬ 
ming over with joy; glad of every grateful smile, 
of every joyous burst of laughter, of every loving 
thought and word and deed the dear last day had 
brought. 

Sadness reigned, it is true, in the little house be¬ 
hind the garden ; and one day poor Sarah Maud, 
with a courage born of despair, threw on her hood 
and shawl, walked straight to a certain house a 
mile away, up the marble steps into good Dr. Bar* 
tol’s office, falling at his feet as she cried, “ Oh, sir, 
it was me an’ our children that went to Miss Carol’s 
last dinner-party, an’ if we made her worse we can’t 
never be happy again ! ” Then the kind old gentle¬ 
man took her rough hand in his and told her to dry 
her tears, for neither she nor any of her flock had 
hastened Carol’s flight; indeed, he said that had 
it not been for the strong hopes and wishes that 
filled her tired heart, she could not have stayed 
long enough to keep that last merry Christmas with 
her dear ones. 


THE BIRDLING FLIES AWAY 


69 


\ 

\ 


And so the old years, fraught with memories, die, 
one after another, and the new years, bright with 
hopes, are born to take their places; but Carol lives 
again in every chime of Christmas bells that peal 
glad tidings, and in every Christmas anthem sung 
by childish voices. 










































38? Kate ^Doucfltic! ^t^Qtn 


LADIES-IN-WAITING. With frontispiece. 

THE ROMANCE OF A CHRISTMAS CARD. Illustrated in 
color. 

PENELOPE’S POSTSCRIPTS With frontispiece. 

; THE STORY WATTSTILL BAXTER. Illustrated. 

I THE BIRDS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL. Holiday Edition. Illus¬ 
trated in color. 

! A CHILD’S JOURNEY WITH DICKENS With frontispiece. 

! MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKENS. Illustrated 
< ROBIN ETTA. Illustrated. 

REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM, Holiday Edition. 

Illustrated. 

SUSANNA AND SUE. Illustrated. 

THE OLD PEABODY PEW. With decorations and illustrations. 
REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM. 

NEW CHRONICLES OF REBECCA. Illustrated. 

ROSE O' THU RIVER. Illustrated in color. 

THE AFFAIR AT THE INN. Illustrated. 

THE DJSARV OF A GOOSE GIRL. Illustrated. 

A CATHEDRAL COURTSHIP, and PENELOPE’S ENG¬ 
LISH EXPERIENCES. Illustrated. 

PENELOPE’S PROGRESS. 

PENELOPE’S IRISH EXPERIENCES. 

j PENELOPE’S EXPERIENCES. I. England; II. Scotland; 
HI. Ireland; Holiday Edition. With many illustrations by Charles 
E. Brock. 

A CATHEDRAL COURTSHIP. Holiday Edition, enlarged. 
Illustrated by C. E Brock. 

THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL. Illustrated. 

THE STORY OF PAIS/. Illustrated. 

A SUMMER IN A CATION. A California Story. Illustrated. 
TIMOTHY'S QUEST. A Story for Anybody, Voting or Old, who 
cares to read it. Also Holiday Edition. Illustrated. 

POLLV OLIVER S PRObLEM Illustrated. 

THE VILLAGE WATCH-TOWER. 

MarM Lisa. 

NINE LOVE SONGS, AND A CAROL. Music by Mrs. Wisgin. 
Words by Herrick. Sill, and others. 

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY 

Boston and New Vork. 

















# 


c 






































